Student Nurses Well-being and the Impact of Mindfulness (SWIM)

Abstract

Mindfulness is an emerging practice in health care [1]. Empirical evidence suggests that Mindfulness programmes and practices can positively impact on physical and psychological health and contribute to overall well-being in health settings [2]. A more recent study by King C, et al. [3], showed that mindfulness practice exercises increased staff positivity, decreases their stress, and helps maintain calmness among staff. Furthermore, systematic reviews highlight that improved sense of well-being is shown amongst healthcare providers who integrate Mindfulness Practice into their personal and professional lives [4]. It is imperative that student nurse’s develop self-care strategies and that their well-being is given a more prominent focus in nursing research and education. This qualitative descriptive study was a pilot that aimed to introduce a mindfulness practice unit into the first- and third-year undergraduate nursing programme in an Irish University. First year nursing students at the start of their programme and third year nursing students prior to the start of their internship placement were selected as these have been identified as periods of increased anxiety and change [5,6]. Findings suggest that Mindfulness can offer nursing students a practical toolkit that supports and enhances their well-being.